- Title: VIETNAM: Dozens gather in Hanoi for first gay and lesbian parade
- Date: 5th August 2012
- Summary: HANOI, VIETNAM (AUGUST 5, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE PREPARING FOR VIET PRIDE PARADE RAINBOW FLAG AND VIET PRIDE PARADE FLAG A YOUNG MAN WITH BANDANA AND A RAINBOW FLAG ON HIS FACE PEOPLE WITH COLOURFUL BALLOONS A SLOGAN ON T-SHIRT SAYING: "SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY" TWO MEN DECORATING THEIR BICYCLES A YOUNG GIRL DISTRIBUTING FLAGS TO OTHER PEOPLE MORE OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR BI
- Embargoed: 20th August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Vietnam
- Country: Vietnam
- Topics: People
- Reuters ID: LVA4KDQFZJCNL25ZZNTCJQPD9X7N
- Story Text: Dozens of people holding colourful balloons and rainbow flags rode bicycles and motorbikes down the streets of Hanoi on Sunday (August 5) in the country's first-ever gay pride parade.
The parade came as the Vietnam government recently proposed including same-sex couples in the country's marriage law. If the law is revised, Vietnam would be the first country in Asia to allow same-sex couples to marry or to register legally as married.
The law could eventually influence property ownership, inheritance and adopting of children.
"I believe that people who participate in this event today, not only myself, will feel pride from inside themselves and from the community later," said Nguyen Thanh Tam, 25, a parade organiser.
Although the government is exploring same-sex marriages, parade participants said stigma still remains in the country where Confucian social morals dominate.
"The presence of homosexual people in society -- people have a legitimate demand to being treated equally as any other Vietnamese. I hope everyone will be treated equally in the future," said Nguyen Tran Dai Hai, a university student.
The parade started from the national stadium and culminated at a park 10km (6 miles) away. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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